DURBAN NORTH ACADEMY LEARNS MARTIAL ARTS!
On 21 April 2014, the BHP Hearing Impaired learners had a visitor come to the Durban North Academy as part of an initiative to inspire and motivate some of our learners.
Richard Trezise who is himself hearing impaired has had quite a successful life. He studied at Fulton School for the deaf. On completion of his schooling, he went on to study jewelry design and had his own jewelry store in Berea for 8 years. He then decided to go back to his first love which is teaching judo and karate to young children at various schools.
Thirteen BHP learners were coming to the end of their learnership. They had struggled in the beginning of their learnership, but all of them had persevered through determined effort and hard work. So we invited Richard, who has overcome obstacles of his own and has shown that through determination, anything is possible. The learners enjoyed their morning with Richard as they all got to chat with him about their goals and dreams.
Later the group was taken outside where Richard showed the ladies different karate moves, which they enjoyed. He gave us some tips on how to protect ourselves while on the streets and some moves to protect ourselves should we be attacked. Richard offered the ladies free lessons as many showed great interest in the sport.
It was a wonderful day and the ladies really enjoyed it and felt very motivated afterwards.
We thank Richard so much for his time and effort and encouraging the ladies to follow their dreams.
TEAM BUILDING – THE OPS MANAGEMENT TEAM
On Tuesday, 11 March 2014 the 0perational management team met at King Shaka airport before travelling to Margate for a three-day team-building and strategy session.
What fun! In-between the individual presentations by the managers and regional feedback, there was time to consolidate the relationships among team members and build a healthy rivalry into the mix.
Apart from the early morning exercise session on the beach (poorly attended by the way) there were also a few mind games to challenge us:
Ban ana (banana split)
wHeather (bad spell of weather)
The operational managers presented their regions to the team in the form of a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Ideas were shared and group consensus obtained. This opportunity allowed for the sharing of best practice and standardizing of procedures.
Everyone came away from the Margate experience feeling refreshed and part of an extraordinary team that together as a team – I CAN DO ANYTHING!
FAMILY DAY EVENT PDC
Parc Du Cap had a family day event where parents of learners were invited to spend the day at the academy on 22nd April 2014. Activities included playing board games and dominoes with the facilitators. Classrooms were divided into different game rooms and learners and parents rotated to play the different games.
To keep the day interesting, staff handed out awards to the following learners:
Most improved learner – awarded to Feziwe Bomvu (who unfortunately couldn’t be with us on award day because she was sick. Her certificate and gift was received on her behalf by her facilitator Sandy Zigana).
Best attendance – awarded to one of our deaf learners Siyabonga Njokwana
Best personality – awarded to Xoliswa Myoli.
I Can! appreciates the effort that these learners make to be in class and to learn and improve academically and socially in all aspects of their lives.
IF OTHERS CAN DO IT, WE CAN ALL DO IT: WE CAN AT I CAN!